Valley Park Middle School's Mission Statement
Valley Park Middle School is a large community school with a tradition of excellence where, in partnership with parents, we value and celebrate our multicultural diversity. At Valley Park, we believe that learning is a lifelong commitment. We believe that the academic, social, emotional, physical and attitudinal needs of our students are our prime concerns and that our programs address these needs.
We are proud of our students' accomplishments in public speaking and math/science competitions. We are also extremely proud of our award-winning choir. Our school continues to be a humanitarian leader via our participation in the Terry Fox Run, food drives and other humanitarian ventures
Valley Park is a large inner city school serving the communities of Thorncliffe and Flemingdon. The school serves the needs of about 1,200 students representing over 50 language groups. We offer strong academic programs in the regular subjects and effective academic supports via our Special Education, Math Support, ESL and LEAP programs.
Valley Park's Code of Behaviour clearly communicates to students, parents and staff the expectations related to our motto, "Respect for All". Student leadership is encouraged through Student Council, Prefects, House Captains, ECO Schools Committee and the Moorelands community leadership program.
Multi-Levels of Student Support
Valley Park Middle School has a broad range of Student Support initatives and programs offering remediation and enrichment. These initiatives and programs include Homework Club, Beyond 3:30 & after school Math/ Science Enrichment. They also include a whole spectrum of supports during the day--ESL, LEAP, MATH SUPPORT, along with a broad range of Special Education Support (RESOURCE, HOME SCHOOL, MID). Other supports include our Project Respect SOS program and BRASS ( Behaviour Resource Active Support Services).
Our mission is to maximize the academic achievement of all students with learning blocks that facilitate the meaningful integration of subjects, theme-based investigations, time on task, differentiated instruction and the effective use of technology. Our main academic priorities are higher order thinking in literacy and numeracy, the meaningful integration of subjects, inquiry-based investigations with open-ended questions, student voice that engages students to tak about and expand their learning, time on task & differentiated learning and learning styles (multiple intelligences)
More Information About Valley Park Middle School
School Climate/Environment Revitalization
This involves the engagement of students, teachers and parents to help beautify and make our learning environment more inviting and stimulating. Special projects involving landscaping, the construction of indoor and outdoor benches, and the creation of murals through out the building help to create a positive atmosphere conducive to effective learning.
In partnership with our School Advisory Council, Flemingdon Neighbourhood Services and the Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office, we are presently engaged in a Go Green Yard Revitalization Project that will include eco features such as the use of rainwater for irrigation and the creation of a "natural" marsh area. It will also include a playing field suitable for baseball, soccer and cricket and an amphitheatre. Many trees will be planted and there will even be a community garden. The idea is to bring the beauty of the Don Valley into our school yard. We believe that this project will make our school the hub of two very vibrant communities.
Student Recognition
Daily, weekly and monthly student recognition occurs via our Superslips, Character Education Certificates, and Winnits. Our 5 50" plasma screen monitors in our cafetorium also are used to give recognition to all stakeholders who make positive contributions to school life.
Parent Engagement
Parents have a number of opportunities to engage with the school. They can participate in our Go Green Yard Revitalization Fund Raising Committee. They can give input to the school via our Parent/Community Survey that occurs every second year, once in the fall and once again in the spring. They can also attend our monthly School Advisory Council meetings.
They can attend our 3 yearly Parent/Community Forums where parents and other community members have the opportunity to voice their opinions, praises and concerns. Parents can also get involved by joining our Go Green Cricket Field Committee that deals with the fundraising aspects of our major yard revitalization project, a project that has many educational, ecological and recreational features. We hope that this project will make Valley Park a true hub for all families in the Thorncliffe and Flemingdon Park neighbourhoods.
Project Respect Continued-
Project Respect incorporates the TDSB's character education initiative. The program is based on the simple idea that, if we all trully followed the "Respect for All" motto, we would not need rules and we would not need to talk about specific behaviours and strategies that are required to create a positive atmosphere at school.
Project Respect has many components and resources:
...the material at the front of our agenda planners (behaviour code & expectations, ...a mural at the back of the school both a visual reminder of our commitment to Project Respect & a representation of the respect and positve social relationships we desire to maintain 100% of the time, ...student recognition strategies, ...character education lessons and lesson plans, ...special assemblies that model and promote exemplary behaviour & the steps and strategies we should all follow when we see or experience disrespectful behaiour; these assemblies also teach the concept of progressive discipline and consequences
...
Additional Features
- Breakfast Program
- Intramurals
- Athletic Teams
- Clubs & Inquiry Expo
- Student Leadership Opportunities
- Pythagoras & Gauss Competitions
- Music Competitions (Instr. & Vocal)
- Science Fair & Speech Arts
Student Life - Where You Belong
GO TEAM
We strive to make our school an inclusive institution of learning where all of our students with their diverse backgrounds feel welcome, comfortable and positively engaged. As a middle school, Valley Park offers excellent opportunities to our students. We have two designated science labs, a well-stocked library, both an instrumental and vocal music program and a large gym . A broad range of extra support is offered to students who need it during the instructional day (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.). Students are assigned to a core class, but also travel on a "rotary" basis to speciality teachers. Students are also encouraged to participate in a range of extra-curricular programs that are offered through the school year. Remediation and homework help is available from 3 p.m to 4 p.m. immediately after the instructional day. Our mission is to maximize the academic achievement of all students with learning blocks that facilitate the meaningful intgegraton of subjects, theme-based investigations, time on task, differentiated instruction and the effectuve use of technology.
WHAT SETS US APART
Valley Park is a vibrant, active and inclusive place of learning where all stakeholders actively work to create a school community that is respectful, responsible and reasonable (our three Rs) and where all stakeholders are positively engaged in our top three priorities--the optimization of student learning, the strengthening of the parent-school-community partnership and the advancementof positive behaviour in all of our relations. We believe that all students can be successful learners. We also believe that hard work is the predominant factor leading to academic success. We believe in establishing high expectations for our students with clear and realistic steps for achieving them. We believe in rewarding student efforts and intiatives via recognition, positive feedback and praise. We believe in the necessity of catering to the interests and needs of all students with enrichment, accommodation, and modification. We believe that all parents need to feel valued as contributors to school life in their roles as advocates, key advisors and the first teachers of their children.
PARENT AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
- Co-op and volunteer students from Marc Garneau C.I. in physical education, mathematics, science and language,computers and music - Toronto Parks and Recreation - Settlement Worker to assist new immigrants to - Thorncliffe Neighborhood Office - Flemingdon Resource Centre - Moorelands - Leadership Programme - community Service - Flemington Park Community Centre - Student teachers from York University and other institutions of higher learning - Toronto Police Services - Valley Park's School Council - Parent volunteers in the classroom and for excursions and special events - Parent participation on school committees - Improved communication between the home and the school via emails, parental workshops and surveys - Parent Forums, one per term, to generate parent input and discussion re school and educational initiatives and issues and strengthen the parent school partnership - - - - -